Machine for cleaning bottles.



No. 813,012. PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906. O. H. LOEW. MACHINE FOR CLEANING BOTTLES.

APPLICATION FILED APRJ, 1903.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906.

0. H. LOEW. MACHINE FOR CLEANING BOTTLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.7,1903- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

qvil'ucoaco GHABLES H. LOEW, OF LAKEWOOD, ()HlO.

llllfitlhllNE FQPR @LEANlNK-B; ETTLESQ To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLEs H. Lonw, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lakewood, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines forCleaning Bottles, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to machines for cleaning bottles; and its novelty consists in the construction and adaptation of the parts, as will be more fully hereinafter pointed out. In bottle-washing machines of the class described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 699,563, issued to me January], 1902, as the assignee of William B'Cobb, there is comprised mechanism for carrying the bottles through a cleansing solution and discharging them (after emptying their contents) automatically and by gravity into a second tank. It is customary with bottlers after the bottles have been soaked, and thus cleansed, to rinse them upon a separate machine made for that purpose, which introduces into their interior a; revolving brush and one or more jets of water. To do this requires the labor of one or 1 two men and a costly machine.

In another application hitherto filed by me, (Serial No. 149,197,filed March 23, 1903,) 7 I have shown, described, and claimed an apparatus having many features in common with the apparatus shown in the present case and having for an important purpose thereof the provision of a machine whichsaves the labor and machinery incident to the rinsing of the bottles in the above-mentioned manner and automatically conveys the bottles from the carrier of the soaking mechanism to a rinsin or s rayin mechanism, whereby they will be t oroug ly rinsed and s rayed internally without having been hand ed.

The present invention more particularly relates to means for retracting the discharge means of the bottle-rinsing mechanism from the bottles.

.ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the delivery end of a bottle-cleaning apparatus comprising my invention, showing the same part y in side elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal section; the carrier-chain and its pockets being shown in elevation, while the other parts are shown in section. Fig. 2 is a small detail of a direcbdclivery mechanism.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed April '7, 1903. Serial No. 151,467.

fitting snugly within I-Patented Feb. 20, 1906.-

Fig. 3 is an end view of the spraying-wheel. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view and partial sec tion of the spraying-wheel. Fig. 5 is a central section of a sprinklingstem and its connection.

In the drawings, 2 represents the endless carrier of a bottle-washing machine of the class above referred to.

21 represents the links of its chain.

22 22 are the bottle-pockets.

23 and 24 are sprocket-wheels adapted to engage the carrier 2.

25 is a sprocket-wheel or idler, whereby the direction of the carrier is reversed, and 26 is the tank. It will be understood that the wheels are arranged in pairs, mounted in suitable bearings on each side of the machines and driven from any suitable source of power, and that the pockets 22 are arranged on transverselyextending plates 27, secured horizontally across between the chains. 28 28 are guards to prevent the bottles from fallingfrom the carrier, which very slowly progresses. Alongside of the tank 26 is placed a second tank or compartment 30, either made integral with the tank 26 or detachable therefrom, as may be convenient. Mounted in suitable bearings in this compartment is a hollow shaft 31, provided with a longitudinal opening or series of openings 31? and connected with a suitable source of su ply of rinsing fluid through a pipe 31 or otiier suitable means. Surrounding this shaft and adapted to. rotate thereon is a sprinkling-wheel 32, comprising a hub 33, provided with hollow spokes 34, which terminate at their extremities in conical flaring mouths 35. At the end of each spoke 34 and I the bottom of each mouth 35 is a transverse diaphragm 36, provided with a central a erture to permit of the passage of a ho low sprinkling-stem 37. This stem is provided at its inner end with a lunger or piston 33,

tile hollow spokes 34 and atits extremity and along its length with apertures 39 to permit of the outward passage of the jets of Water, and its interior has communication with the watenspace 34 in the spoke,preferably. through an aperture 39 in said piston, as shown. The mechanism thus far described is shown, described, and claimed in my previous application above referred to. Each spoke and its mouth is apertures 39 made of two a series of which is secured in any suitable manner within the compartment and which plates gradually curve inward toward the center of the wheel; Intermediate the discharge-wheel 24 and the sprinkling-wheel 32 and suitably mounted in bearings (not shown) is a reversing-wheel 50, which is also claimed in my said previous application and comprises a framework 51., a cylinder 52, and a series of open bottle-pockets 53 radiatin therefrom. A curved guard 54 is so mounter as to prevent the escape of the bottles from the wheel 50, except at predetermined points. A similar guard 55 is mounted on the tank 30 to prevent the further movement of the bottles toward the left and to guide them surely into the mouths of the spraying-wheel.

The operation of the device described is as follows: The bottles contained within the pockets 22 of the carrier 2 are slowly moved toward the discharge-wheel 24 by the forward motion of the carrier. They are pre vented from falling from the open pockets by the guard 28, a ainst which they rest as they move toward t is wheel. Finally reaching the end of the guard 28 they fall therefrom and into the pockets 53 of the reversingwheel 50, the movement of this latter wheel being timed to coincide with that of the discharge-wheel 24, so that the pockets on the reversing-wheel are ready to receive the falling bottles. This reversing wheel moves slowl from left to right and the bottles finally trave around with it, being prevented from falling out by the guard 54 until they reach the end of the guard 54 and fall bottom upward into the mouths of the sprinklin wheel 32, the guard assisting to gui e them in the proper direction. As the bottles fall into the conical mouth 35 of the spoke 34 mouth downward they rest upon the diahra m 36, the end of the stem 37 just entermg tie bottle. As the sprinkling-wheel 32 slowly rotates a point is reached where the hollow spoke 84 coincides with the opening 31 in the hollow shaft 31. In the meantime when the machine was started the hollow shaft had been coupled to a source of Water-supply under pressure. Consequently as soon as the opening 31 is reached the water rushes into the hollow spoke 34. It first fills the space 34 and then pusheslorward or upward the plunger or piston 38 until the latter reaches the end of its stroke and impinges against the lower side of the diapl'iragm 36. In the meantime the water has filled the sprinkling-stem 37 and having nowhere else to go escapes in jets through the As it is easier for the water to push-the piston 38 than escape through the ieces, with a central vertical I lon itudmal s 0t 40 between them to admitof t e reception of a cam-returning plate 41,

apertures 39, practically the jets do not begin until the stem 37 is quite within the. bottle. The bottle is thus given a thorough sprinklin internally. As the Wheel continues torevo ve the sprinklin continues until the hollow spoke 34 no Ionger communicates with the aperture 31 and the inrush of water ceases. Shortly after reaching this point the bottle drops from the wheel by gravity, the water in the tank 30 affording a cushion on which to receive it. It is now necessary to return the sprinkling-stems 37 to their original position within the spokes 34, because if this were not done the bottles could not be guided accurately into place. For this purpose I provide the series of cam-returning plates 41. thetank. As the wheel continues to revolve these come within the aperture or slit 40 and striking the head of the stem 37 drive it back into position. Within the spoke 34 is an annular shoulder 34* toilimit the backward motion of the piston 38.

It will be observed that the construction described applies to an apparatus in which the carrier is so arranged that thebottles are delivered bottom downward therefrom when passing the wheel 24. Hence the necessity for the reversing-wheel 50, because the bottles must be reversed and delivered to the sprinklin -wheel bottoms upward and necks downwar In Fig. 2 I have indicated a construction where the carrier is so constructed as to deliver the bottles bottoms upward. In such case the bottle-holder is of different construction and needs no s ecial descri tion at this time except to say t rat the bott es are delivered by gravity as the carrier moves around the delivery-wheel 24, only their mouths are downward. In such case naturally the reversing-wheel is not needed.

What I claim as new is 1. A bottle-rinsing mechanism, comprising a movable bottle-carrier, reciprocatorilymounted fluid-discharge devices which partake of the movement of said carrier and are adapted to be projected into the bottles thereon, and retractim means for said discharge devices arranged in the path traversed by the same in their movement with said carrier.

2. A bottle-rinsing mechanism comprising a'rotating wheel having bottle-receptac'les, hollow rcciprocatory fluid-discharge stems carried by said wheel and adapted to be projected into the bottles in said receptacles, means for supplying said stems with bottlerinsing fluid, and means arranged in the path of movement of said stems .i'or automatically retracting the same when they reach a predetermined place in the travel oi the wheel.

3. A bottle-rinsing mechanism comprising a rotat-ivc wheel adapted to carry the bottles These are set up on edge withintheir reciprocation, and means throu interior of being rinsed,

to be rinsed, hollow reciprocatory fluid-dis char e stems carried by said wheel, means by whic said stems are rojected into, the interiors of'bottles by t e pressure of rinsing fluid, and a cam-plate arranged to retract said stems when the reach a predetermined lace in the travel 0 said wheel.

4. A bottle-rinsing mechanism comprising a rotative wheel having bottle-receptacles provided with side apertures,a cam-plate rojectin into said apertures, reciprocative uid-disc arge means engaged by said cam thereby in one direction of h which ied with plates and moved said flui discharge means are supp rinsing fluid.

- 5. A bottle-rinsing mechanism comprising a rotative wheel having cles, hollow fluid-discharge stems carrie by said wheel and mountedto have movement therein, said stems having istons, means for supplying rinsing fluid un er pressure to the pistons at a predetermined lace inthe travel of said wheel, whereby tfle stems are advanced to within the interiors of the bottles and relatively stationary means operating to retract said stems at a'predetermined place in the travel of said wheel! 6. A bottle-rinsing mechanism comprising rovided with side, apertures, hollow fluidiseharge stems carried by said; wheel and mounted to have movement therein and arranged in line with said receptacles, said stems having pistons, means for supplying r nsin fluid under pressure to the'interior of-isai discharge-stems and to said pistons at al'prethe travel ofvsaid wheel, and a cam-p ate adapted to project into said apertures and to engage the ends of thedisc arge-stems andto retractsaid stems at determined lace in a predetermined place in wheel.

7. In a machineof the class described, a

sprinkling-wheel com rising means for receiving the bottles mout downward, 'means for introducing into the interior of the bottles jets of water, comprising a holl'ow hub sup plied with water under pressure,

communicating therewith, said stems having plungers adapted to ,be forced forward by.

the pressure of he water to thereby project the stems into the bottles, and means'for" pushingthe stems and plungers into lace after use comprising a retracting cam-p ate substantially as described.

bottle-rece ta'' said discharge-stems and to said mg. means,

the travel of the matica'lly retractin hollow sprinkling-stems radlating' therefrom and,

haft and provided with bottle-receptacles and with hollow spokes which are successively brought into communication with the discharge-aperture in said shaft, hollow fluid-discharge stems mounted in said spokes and adapted to be advanced therefrom and into the bottles under the conof the fluid therefrom, a rinsing-wheel mount- A ed to rotate on said s trol of the water in said spokes, and stationaryretracting means engaged with said stems at a redetermined place in the travelof said whee Y r 9. In a machine of the class described, a

hollow shaft adapted to be connected with a source of supply of rinsing fluid under pressure and having an aperture for the discharge of the fluid therefrom, a rinsing-wheel mounted to rotate on said shaft and com rising hollow spokes which are successive y brought into communication with the discharge-a ertures in said shaft and are providedmth gob tle-receptacles, mounted in said spokes and ada ted to be advanced therefrom and into the l? pressure of the water in said spokes, and a stationary cam-plate arranged to retract said stems at a predetermined place in the travel of said wheel.

10. A traveling bottle carrying and rinsing means comprising fluid discharge devices which are movable toward and from the bottles .being carried, and stationary means for automatically retracting said discharge devices at a predetermined place in the travel of the carrier.

11. -A-bottle-ri nsing apparatus comprising a traveling bottle carrier having flu1d-.dis charge devices provided with means whereby they are advanced toward the bottles by the pressure of the rinsing fluid, means b which the su ly of said fluid is automatica ly contrOIled Ey and stationary means for autosaid discharge devices at a predetermined p ace in the travel of said carrying means. I

.12. A bottle-washing device com "risin a rotative bottle carrying means, fl did discharge devices carried thereby and mounted toreciprocate to and from t e bottles, and

means whereby said fluid-discharge devices stationary re-. said discharge hollow fluid-discharge stems ottles by the the movement of the bottlercarly ceptacles, means by which said discharge dethe receptacles of the rinsingapparatus from [6 vices are advanced toward the bottles at a the carrier of the soaking means. predetermined place in the travel of said car- Witness 'my hand, thrs 4th day of A ril, rier by the pressure of the rinsing fluid, sta- 1903, at the clty of Boston, cdunt'y of Sn 01k,

tionary means by which said discharge deand State of Massachusetts.

vices are automatically retracted from said CHARLES H. LOEW. bottles at a predetermined place in the travel Witnesses: of said carrier, and means for delivering the C. C. ROTE,

bottles automatically neck downward into GEORGE O. G. COAL-E. 

